“The mediator helped us stay focused on the concerns and kept us looking forward to determine how we were going to live together in the same neighborhood.”

Most conflicts arise out of communication difficulties so here are some starters:

Understand that conflict is normal and neutral, the choice you make in how you respond to it will determine if the conflict is perceived as negative or positive.

Slow down your response time, take a deep breath and let it out (it will give you time to think). Make sure you understand the concern before trying to respond to it. Notice I said respond not react. Reaction is a response that does not engage your conscious brain in the process...